A/R: Please Give me the Steer; Bawumia to Nananom

The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has sold out his vision for Ghana in his quest to become the sixth President of the Fourth Republic, calling on the traditional authorities in the Ashanti Region to endorse and give him the mandate.

He met the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs on Monday, June 10, 2024, in Kumasi.

Chairing the meeting was Asante Mamponghene Daasebre Osei Bonsu II, and among the chiefs present were Domeabrahene Nana Kusi Oboadum I, Offinsohene Nana Dwamena Akenten II, Tepahene Nana Adusei Atwenewa Ampem I and Bompatamanhene Nana Effah Appenteng.

Queens in the Ashanti Region were also duly represented and included Mamponghemaa Nana Agyakoma Difie II, and Eijisuhemaa Nana Yaa Asantewaa II.

The Vice President was accompanied by the Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Akosuah Fremah Osei Opare, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Suame, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, MP for Dome Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Sarfo, Minister for Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, the Chairman of the NPP, Stephen Ntim and the General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong.

The Vice President is capping his nationwide campaign with the Ashanti Region and deemed it imperative that he meets the custodians of the land before proceeding.

He urged the House to give him their backing as he touted some of the achievements he has chalked in office as the Veep and implored for the mandate to serve the country four full years as President.

According to him, his track record bears testament to his competence for the position of President.

“No Vice President in the fourth Republic has been able to achieve what I have gotten in the past seven years. I have passed the test as Vice President so please promote me to President. Give me the steer. My vision is promising and will drive development in Ghana. I will go ahead with the job as soon as I am sworn in. I wouldn’t need any ‘honeymoon’… I have learned to do it well when given the nod.”

Achievements
Touting and outlining some of his achievements, the Veep mentioned the Free Senior High School and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), investment in TVET, promotion of STEM education, and distribution of tablets to students, among others.

He also mentioned the digitalization drive in the issuance of identity cards to 18 million people, the issuance of identity numbers and birth certificates for newborn babies and in the same vein helping in the eradication of ghost names and the fight against corruption.

“We linked every worker to the Ghana Card. Now ghost names are a thing of the past. Through this, 44,000 workers on the National Service Scheme and 29,000 ghost pensioners have been cleaned from the government payroll system with GHC7 million saved. We no longer have ghost names.”

He talked about the operation of an E-gate at the Kotoka International Airport next year; the institution of a digital address system; mobile money Interoperability; drone medical delivery services; and digitalisation of medical records in 304 hospitals comprising Teaching Hospitals, Regional Hospitals and District hospitals and expected to cover all hospitals by next year.

Vision
Dr Bawumia as part of his vision intends to infuse technology in the agricultural sector for affordable food production, cut the cost of electricity through the introduction of solar panels, empower the private sector and introduce a flat tax system.

He also told the House about plans to align import duty to that of Togo’s, introduce a credit rating system, strengthen and empower traditional authorities; codify lines of succession, digitalization of lands records and the creation of jobs through the training of one million youth in digital skills.

After hearing him out, Daasebre Osei Bonsu prayed for the assistance of God for the Vice President for his mission.